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(No Model.)'

I J. A. LINDEN. 1' PORTABLE BATH TUB.

No. 428,252. Patented May 20, .1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOHN A. LINDEN, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO NILS PEHRSON, OF SAME PLACE.

PORTABLE BATH-TU B.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,252, dated May 20, 1890. Application filed January 13, 1890. Serial No. 336,841. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. LINDEN,a citizen of Sweden, (but having my first papers on application to become a citizen of the United States,) residing at Sterling, in the county of IVhiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Bath-Tubs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to portable bathtubs; and the novelty consists in the construction of the several parts, and in the combination as a whole, all as will be more fully set set forth in'the following description, as well as pointed out in the claim.

Figure 1 is a perspective of a portable bathtub embodying my invention, with a removable canvas or oil-cloth support. Fig. 2 is a representation of the same inclosed for use. Fig. 3 represents my invention inclosed and in position for transportation and storage.

A is a rectangular water-tight box or tub of suitable size to permit a person to conveniently sit therein, the one I use being three feet long, two feet wide, and about ten inches in height. Said box or tub is provided with the depression B in the bottom near one end thereof for the purpose of permitting the water to collect therein. Said tub is also provided with the usual handles 0 O, and with casters L and D at the corners thereof.

E E are foot-posts and F F are head-posts, hinged at their lower extremities to the inner surfaces of the ends of the tub A in position to readily fold inwardly within said tub when not in use, and to be turned up vertically, as shown in Fig. 1, in position for use.

G G are angular supports, removably attached, respectively, near their lower ends to the upper portion of the posts F F and interbraced at their upper angles by the cross-rod H, pivoted to one of the supports G and adapted to hook into an eye 11, seated at the angle of the opposite support. The horizontal tops of the supports G are provided at their inner ends, respectively, with eyes J J, into which hook-rods K K, pivotally attached to the upper ends of the foot-posts E E, respectively, are hooked, and thereby the bracing of the upper portion of the cover-frame effected. A cross-brace L unites and braces the upper ends of the foot-posts E E. The supports G are united to the head-posts F F by removable transverse bolts M M, passing through F and G and fastened by thumb-screws M The bolts M may be seated in vertical slots formed in either F or G, and the support G be rendered thereby vertically adjustable.

N is a suitable seat, hinged at its outer end in a vertical plane to the inner surface of the head-posts F, and adapted to fold upward against the latter when it is desired to fold said post downward into the tub A. The seat N is located at the side of the tub opposite the depression 13, and is supported from beneath by crossed legs 0 O, hinged transversely, respectively, at their lower ends to the inner surface of the sides of the tub A, and thus adapted to fold inwardly and transversely Within said box when not in use. In the lower surface of the inner corners of the seat N is provided a socket P, which, when the seat is in a horizontal position, receives a short vertical pin R,-seated in the contiguous end of the adjacent leg 0 and holds the said parts in position.

S S are small force-pumps, seated in the depression B and adapted to be operated alternately by the rocking pedal T, seated in the bottom of the tub A in position to be conveniently oscillated by the feet of the occupant seated on seat N. In order that this shall be done, one end of the pedal T is pivoted to the bracket 1, fixed to the floor, and at the respective sides of the pedal are fixed the uprights 25', which are jointed at their upper ends to r the piston-lever s of the pump.

A cross-tube V affords interconnnunication for the upper ends of the pumps S, from the center of which rises a short hollow commnnicating-tube V, to which is suitably attached a flexible hose WV, provided at its upper end with an adjustable hand-piece or nozzle X.

Y is a canvas, oil-cloth, or rubber cover adapted to inclose the upper portion of the apparatus, and by being suitably fastened around the upper edge of the tub A prevent the splashing of water outside of the latter.

WVhen my invention is to be used, the posts E and F are turned upward to a vertical position, supports G bolted to the posts F, and the cross-rods II and K hooked in position, the seat N turned downwardly into a horizontal position, and legs 0 O folded upward therein in place, the requisite amount of water placed in the tub A, and the covering Y suitably placed over and attached to the upper portion of the apparatus. WVhen this is done, the usual splashing is not only prevented from escaping from the tub, but the occupant is wholly secluded from observation: The occupant then takes the nozzle X in one hand, and by operating the treadle T with his feet causes a constant stream of Water to discharge through said nozzle, which by the flexibility of hose 7 he can apply direct to any and all parts of his person while seated on the seat N. The nozzle X is provided with the usual adj ustment to regulate the amount of water escaping thereform. I

My invention will operate satisfactory with one pump; but by the use of duplicate pumps the discharged stream will be more uniform and constant. As the Water is used,it drops back upon the floor of the tub A and flows into the depression I3, where it is again taken up by the pumps and forced through the hose IV. By this means only a small amount of water will be necessary, Whether heated or otherwise.

IVhen the bathing is completed, the supports G can be readily disengaged from the hooks H and K, the bolts M removed, the seat N folded upward against the posts F, the legs 0 folded transversely in the'bottom of the tub A, the posts E and F folded inwardly thereon, the supports G laid within said tub, and the lid A closed.

The advantages of my invention are its portability, the small place required therefor, the fact that the occupant can bathe while in a sitting position instead of lying down, the seclusion afforded by the apparatus, and the fact that the occupant can apply the water to any part of his person without any change of position and by the simple movement of his hand.

I am aware that folding and portable bathing-houses are not new; also, that it is not new to provide pumping mechanism in a portable bathing apparatus, nor a folding seat in such apparatus as well as in a portable bathing-house.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

The combination of the portable tub A, posts E and I hinged thereto, supports G, removably attached to posts F and vertically ad j ustable thereon, as set forth, and detachably connected to posts E by the hook-rods K, and in terbraced at their upper angles by the crossrod II, and thereby adapted to support the cover V, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. LINDEN.

Witnesses:

JOHN G. MANAHAN, ADDA E. \VARD. 

